Who has breached childminder contract??

jukes_2

My childminder got a dog about 6 months ago, initially held or in another room. Now it's running loose with by 3 year old and 5 year old boys and 2 others that childminder looks after. It always jumps up at my 3 year old and he had scratches on face. I requested nicely she keep dog in separate room to avoid further scratches, or potentially more serious incident.First reaction was she wasn't going to 'confine' dog (2 hours in living room is what it would be). Next day when I tried to explain I needed her to do this she said to end our contract and I agreed. Then she said she'd put dog in another room to 'see how it goes' in a very resentful way. Also my husband collected children Tuesday and found our two boys plus a 6 and 8 year old unsupervised on the trampoline with no net. Her response to my concern over this was 'you've never complained before' my response was 'no, I've never knew all 4 kids on it at once!!' Decided to stop my kids going to her asap.
i have paid her for the week she's done this month but feel it unfair I pay her for remaining 3 weeks = £280 as I've had no choice due to safety. She says I have to give months notice, however initially she said to end it, 2ndly surely she's in breach over safety issues??? I am right?? I tried to sort it out nicely but she's now nasty over the money which isn't the point! It's about the risks to my children!
Thoughts please...

alwaysonthego_2

No, don't pay her anymore and report her to OFSTED. If a dog is causing actual physical harm to children (not on purpose) then it should not be allowed to mix freely with the children. You need to think about the other children.

lynzpower

Ofsted need to know about the 4 kids on a trampoline with no net too!

Clearly her eyes are not on the priize of providing a safe environment for children, you wonder what other breaches there are there.

The other aspect is that any child could have an allergy to pets and her attitude towards the childrens safety is pretty worrying TBH!

fernliebee

I think you should write a letter to her stating your intentions, ie you will pay her for time she has already worked, you do not intend to pay for your notice period due to serious safety concerns and that you will pursue these worries with ofsted. You had voiced your concerns to her and she ignored them, leaving you no choice but to withdraw your children from her care. I would also mention that with the safety concerns you witnessed, you would worry that others may be negated also.
TBH with things happening like that I'm surprised she is not more concerned about an ofsted complaint, she could potentially lose her livelihood!! Also I think you did the right thing, I'm all for a bit of risk in play, but these are unnecessary risks which are not benefitting the children.

choccymoose

you should have been consulted on the fact the childminder was getting a dog in the first instance!.. Ofsted will need informing, if the dog is causing physical harm (unintentional or not). The most concerning thing here for me ( and I am a manager of a childminding network and tutor for the diploma in homebased childcare) is the Trampoline! for a number of reasons-:
-Trampolines are meant to be for single users
-they should have a safety net
- your childminder should have informed her insurance company that she has one and the minded children are using it, even if she has, Trampoline instructions usually say that children need to be over the age of 6 to use them and to be used by single children, as she is ignoring the manufacturers instructions, even with parental permission her insurance is invalid.
- and don't even get me started on the supervision problem!!!!!

Ofsted need to know, I would say also contact your local early years team, or childmnding development worker. If you do not know who they are pm me and I will get you the details.

Mips

Are you sure she has a registration number?????

madnessandmayhem

Hi,
Your childminder should have had no problem in confining her dog if it was causing harm to your children-I have 2 boys, 2 and 6, and I also have 2 puppies who are 5 months (yes-i know i must be crazy lol) and the dogs are very excitable and do jump up at the kids a bit, but if they start to get to excited they go in their crate or in the garden to calm down a bit, and they are NEVER left around the children if i'm not there to keep an eye as well. If i ever have friends children over, the dogs are put out of the way, no exceptions! I think you should definatley inform ofsted if she is willing to put children who are in her care at any risk at all no matter how small the risk is. I always believe that you should never 100% trust any animal around children. And as for the 4 kids on a trampoline unsupervised? well that just shows a complete lack of common sense and a huge amount of stupidity!

fernliebee

Just to add that I think it is most worrying that she can't even see there is a problem on either count, even suggesting it was your problem re the dog scratching your child. I find this concerning as if she thinks this is OK, then what else is she letting slip. If it had happened and she had been apologetic and trying to find a solution I would have thought at least she is recognising my concerns iyswim. Good luck with it all, and hope you find a new (much better) childminder soon.

gabyjane

Hi i am a childminder and i personally would never have either..no offence to dog owners but i just dont like them and i have seen many parents not take places with minders with dogs due to similar reasons like these. As for the trampoline well she should have proper additional insurance for it, where i live we have been advised not to use them due to the high ratio of accidents and even though my dd has one the kids never get to go on it..irrelevant of age.
I would personally write her a letter explaining your reasons etc and let her take it fron there, if she has any sense she will know she is in the wrong and that will be it..Ofsted would not be happy about it i can tell you.
Good luck

consultant31

She can't force you to pay her so don't worry about that. I would definitely report her to Ofsted - other children are at risk even though yours won't be any more. She's not fit to look after other people's children by the sound of it.

I don't think the issue of childminders having a dog is a particular problem as long as the dog is 'bombproof' and not left alone with the children. It's good for children to learn kindness and a sense of responsibility toward animals if they don't have them at home.

liney

Write a letter listing your complaints, and the fact you will not be paying notice for a service you are cancelling due to her flouting health and safety regulations and putting your children at risk.

Send a copy of this letter to her, and make it clear in the letter that a copy will go to the Regulatory office at your local council and OFSTED. State in the letter that if she wishes to respond she should do so in writing, and that you will be forwarding any response to these two bodies as well.